A new hero is born

A 422 mile round trip on a Tuesday night, by around 1,000 travelling Shakers, was made completely worthwhile thanks to one stunning strike from a new folk hero – step forward Jessy Reindorf

A defeat was the outcome of the game by six goals to three – but the performance from Kevin Blackwell’s side impressed many with the Shakers making many new friends in Norfolk.

The night turned out to be a goal fest at Norwich which saw Bury come out on the wrong side of the result but put in a performance that they can be proud of.

The quality of the finish was the only difference on the night, and the difference in divisions prevailed but goals from Anton Forrester, William Edjenguele and a goal of the season contender from Jessy Reindorf showed that Bury can compete with the bigger teams.

Kevin Blackwell made one change to the starting eleven that faced Burton at the weekend with Marlon Jackson coming into the side for the ineligible Jordan Sinnott.

The Shakers played a high tempo game in the opening period and looked to utilise the pace of Anton Forrester behind the back two of Ryan Bennett and Sebastian Bassong, but before long Norwich started to spread the ball around, showing their premier league quality and created a half chance with 18 minutes gone. The ball fell to Russell Martin on the edge of the area but his shot was high into the packed home end.

Norwich took the lead on 23 minutes through Martin Olsson with the Canaries passing the ball quickly via six players before it fell to Olsson on the edge of the box. With back to goal, the ex-Blackburn man turned quickly on the edge of the area and drove a low shot past Rob Lainton to give the Canaries the advantage.

GOAL: Norwich City 1 Bury 0 (Olsson 23)

Bury looked to respond quickly and won a corner moments later. The delivery from Craig Jones saw the home side head clear, but the ball fell to Tommy Miller just outside the area. He quickly despatched the ball back into the box to bring a good header from Anton Forrester, but the Shakers leading scorer stood with head in hands as his effort flashed just over the bar.

Norwich doubled their lead just after the half hour, later as Anthony Pilkington latched onto a through ball from Elmander, with the Shakers defence caught out by the pass, former Stockport player Anthony Pilkington fired a low shot across Lainton into the far corner of the net.

GOAL: Norwich City 2 Bury 0 (Pilkington 31)

The Shakers responded well to the goal and created two chances for themselves in two minutes. The first came through well worked play from Marlon Jackson and Anton Forrester which required a last minute block from Ryan Bennett to stop the latter getting a shot away.

Craig Jones had the second chance as he got into the area from Danny Mayor’s through ball. His low shot was well saved by Mark Bunn and he gathered at the second attempt.

Although Bury went into half time 2-0 down, the team could hold their heads high as they were keeping a Norwich side at bay with the only difference they quality in finishing.

Half time: Norwich City 2 Bury 0

The Shakers nearly got a goal back straight after half time. Some clever play from the Shakers fed the ball to Tommy Miller in the middle of the park, he slipped a stunning ball into the box to find Craig Jones and his run caught the Norwich defence flat footed. He managed to get a final touch on the ball to loop it over keeper Mark Bunn, though the shot stopper managed to get a palm to it to tip the effort over the crossbar.

Norwich got a third goal on 52 minutes. We Hoolahan, who had dominated the middle of the park for large parts of the game, slipped a good ball to the feet of Johan Elmander. A clever first touch took the ball past two defenders before he fired low under a diving Rob Lainton.

GOAL: Norwich City 3 Bury 0 (Elmander 52)

The Shakers showed no signs of giving up on the game, despite a 3-0 deficit and created several chances for themselves. Just before the hour, Anton Forrester created space for himself but struck the Norwich crossbar with a firm strike from just inside the box.

Forrester did get a goal on 71 minutes though. A quickly taken Tommy Miller free kick was stabbed wide to Danny Mayor. His delivery to the back post saw Andy Procter head the ball down and into the six yard box. After a heavy bounce, Marlon Jackson managed to head the ball at goal, but struck the crossbar. Forrester though was on hand to head home from close range for his third of the season and sent the already vociferous Shakers Convoy into raptures

GOAL: Norwich City 3 Bury 1 (Forrester 72)

Norwich scored a fourth goal just three minutes later, Robert Snodgrass chased his own header to the touchline before cutting the ball back into the six yard box, where Johan Elmander slid through and powered the ball into the back of the net.

GOAL: Norwich City 4 Bury 1 (Elmander 75)

Kevin Blackwell then brought on towering Rwandan international Jessy Reindorf for his first taste of English football and what an impact he made for the Shakers in the final fifteen minutes.

Two minutes after the substitution, Bury had their second goal of the game with William Edjenguele getting on the score sheet for the second game running. Tommy Miller’s deflected free kick found looped over the Canaries wall where Edjenguele headed home for his second Bury goal in two games. Bury were showing no signs of giving up this game.

GOAL: Norwich City 4 Bury 2 (Edjenguele 79)

With six minutes of the game remaining, there was still time for another three goals, though the first came to the home side as Dutch international Leroy Fer powered home a Robert Snodgrass corner from close range.

GOAL: Norwich City 5 Bury 2 (Fer 84)

Jessy Reindorf was obviously causing a lot of problems for Bassong and Martin at the heart of the Norwich defence and another fantastic stop from Mark Bunn prevented him opening his account for Bury soon after the home side had their fifth goal of the night.

Norwich struck a sixth goal on 90 minutes as he took the ball into the Bury area from the corner of the box, and drove a fierce strike across Rob Lainton.

Goal: Norwich City 6 Bury 2 (Whittaker 90)

However, Bury weren’t finished there. A long clearance from the back found Jessy Reindorf half way inside the Norwich half, he controlled the ball superbly and with Ashley Grimes making a good break into the box, everyone waited for the expected pass to the former Rochdale striker. Jessy though had other plans and from a full 35 yards out he drove a low powerful shot that flew straight into the top corner. The away section of the Carrow Road Stadium erupted as a new Shakers folk hero was born, before the entire stadium stood to applaud the quality of goal from Big Jessy – a truly wonderful and premier league class goal.

Goal: Norwich City 6 Bury 3 (Reindorf (90 +3)

The full time whistle was blown shortly after Reindorf’s goal. There were no signs of heads dropped; the result may have slightly flattered the home side with only the quality of the finish the difference between the two sides. For the Shakers, there are positives by the coach load to take into the league two campaign and the standing ovation awarded to the Shakers, not only from the travelling Shakers Convoy, but from home fans as well can only bear fruit for the coming months.